[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 364 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value dance schools.
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Finding the Best Value Dance School for You
The right dance school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Dance Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Dance Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in dance in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $51,372. Set against $11,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $11,994 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $27,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fullerton came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value dance schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,087. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Dance graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $16,639 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
California State University Long Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Dance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Dance graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $30,686 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Florida State University landed the #6 spot for dance value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Dance graduates carry a median of $21,706 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $21,877. That is a strong return on a $21,706 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Utah Valley University landed the #7 spot for dance value this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California Irvine earned the #8 position for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $20,080. Early-career dance graduates make about $28,112. That is a strong return on a $20,080 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Womans University earned the #9 position for value in dance this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Dance graduates carry a median of $21,953 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $29,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #10 for value in dance this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $25,000. Dance graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $24,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value dance schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #12 among the best values for dance. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $24,652. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $20,417. Set against $24,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Utah landed the #13 spot for dance value this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $17,269 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $24,125. Set against $17,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #14 position for value in dance this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Dance graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,853. That is a strong return on a $13,287 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #15 spot for dance value this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $15,501. Dance graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Set against $15,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #16 among the best values for dance. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $24,545. Early-career dance graduates make about $16,389. That is a strong return on a $24,545 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Arizona State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value dance schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Dance graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $27,310. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #18 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Students borrow a median of $22,754 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Georgia came in at #19 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Dance graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey City University came in at #20 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $47,083. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
West Virginia University came in at #21 for value in dance this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $51,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #22 for value in dance this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts placed #23 among the best values for dance. Located in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,477, with out-of-state students paying around $27,211. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts generally make around $14,201. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 30% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside came in at #24 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Western Kentucky University earned the #25 position for value in dance this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Dance Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in dance:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 364 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 97 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
